Federation Of Aden States Inaugurated

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28821, 16 February 1959, Page 9

Federation Of Aden States Inaugurated

(Af.Z. Press Association-'-Copyngtitf

ADEN, February 13, A federation of six States in the Aden Protectorate, to be 'known as the Federation of Arab Amirates of the South has been inaugurated with British support and with the aim of ultimate independence.

The six States comprise a third of the total of 18 Western Aden Protectorate States. Several of the States have been the scene of border skirmishes between protectorate forces and infiltrators from the Yemen, to the northwest, which claims sovereignty over the protectorate The flag of the new federation was unfurled at the signing ceremony. It consists of an Islamic crescent moon with a central star and five horizontal stripes—black, yellow, green, yellow, and blue — symbolising mountains, desert, agriculture, desert and sea. The British Colonial Secretary (Mr A. T. Lennox-Boyd) who attended the ceremony inaugurating the federation, said it was the six rulers’ desire “to pool their resources, to live without fear of subversion or attack, and to give their people greater security and prosperity.” He pledged the support and friendship of the British Government for the new federation, “which poses a threat to noone, no country. It has come into existence by the wiU of the people acting through their traditional tribal leaders.” “It is my earnest hope that, while growing in strength, the young federation wiU also grow in size. “But no matter how peaceful its aims, the federation must have the means to defend itself,” he said. The British Government would hand over the Government guards to form the national guard of the federation. Immediately after the inauguration, the Ministers of the six States and the Governor of Aden (Sir William Luce) signed a treaty of friendship and protec-

tiOn between Britain and the federation. An Arab chief, Fadhli Naib, thanked the British Government for its assistance. “Our new Government is based on democratic principles. We mean no aggression, but we shall defend ourselves,” he said.

“The Government shall work for the gradual improvement of its political standing and for its development into an independent sovereign State. \ “The Federal Government shall, in the light of the constitution, leave its doors open for any territory of the south wishing to accede to it. We shall never resort to pressure on any territory not wishing to accede,” he said.